Top 10 cool and unusual hotels in London

A grand metropolis and one of the world’s greatest cities, London is an eclectic mix of many different cultures and powerful music, art and design scenes. Sometimes gritty, but with many pockets of true originality, quirkiness and English eccentricity – the city doesn’t tend to disappoint its many visitors. We have chosen ten cool and unique London hotels (in no particular order) that reflect the city’s taste for the original, the extraordinary and the impeccably designed…

Qbic Hotel London City – cool cuboids rule

Hot on the heels of the popular Amsterdam version is Qbic London – a unique hotel concept which turns a budget hotel stay into a quirky, fun experience. Here you get to sleep in a ‘Cubi’ – a cool cuboid with comes with a comfortable bed and a 32-inch flat screen TV. Rooms also feature a modern shower room, black out curtains and handy sound-proofing to ensure an undisturbed night’s sleep. Located in the trendy Shoreditch area of London you’ll also only a stone’s throw from heaps of cool bars, art galleries and vintage boutiques.

CitizenM Hotel – fun, funky and full of colour

This hugely popular Dutch hotel group brings its own brand of affordable luxury to London. Funky, edgy with a very liberal use of colour in the decor – this hotel is anything but boring. Located in Southwark, all of the slightly futuristic rooms feature free movies, Wi-Fi, a rain shower, huge windows, a comfy king-sized bed and a cool MoodPad gadget – a touch-screen device which allows guests to control the room’s impressive array of electronics.

The Hoxton Hotel – urban country lodge

The Hoxton Hotel epitomises the trendy urban cool of Hoxton itself but with surprisingly competitive prices. Innovatively designed with open fireplaces, classic leather furniture, exposed brickwork and the occasional faux moose head, the style is often likened to a modern urban country lodge. The guest rooms – although compact – are equally as stylish and come complete with Frette linen, flatscreen TVs, rain power showers and some cool artistic details. Other extras include a free Pret a Manger Breakfast (delivered to your door), fresh milk and water in the fridge and Wi-fi. Also watch out for their extremely popular £1 a room sale.

Prices from £59 a night – to get the best prices book at least 8 weeks in advance.

Church Street Hotel – a slice of Havana heaven

Church Street Hotel, located in a Zone 2 South London neighbourhood, prides itself on its welcoming atmosphere, colourful Cuban/Mexican inspired room designs, attention to detail and good value room rates. The new owners have transformed a run down bed and breakfast into unique boutique hotel adorned with striking Mexican tiles, painted furniture and Spanish-American religious art. Personal touches include a cigar box containing Green and Black’s chocolate chocolate, a complimentary jar of hot sauce and home-made organic breakfasts. A slice of Havana heaven in Camberwell.

The Andaz – sleek, unique and ultra stylish

Housed in a red brick Victorian building in Liverpool Street, the Andaz is a sleek modern new hotel where design and faultless personal customer service are the priority. Here the receptionist greets you at the door and checks you in with a laptop and other services include free Wi-Fi, local phone calls and a healthy organic mini bar in every room. All the rooms are spacious and stylish and come with minimalist bold colours, flat screen TVs, iPod docks and a deep eco-friendly bath.

The Pavilion Rock & Roll Hotel – flamboyant kitsch

The Pavilion Fashion Rock’n’Roll Hotel is a small quirky London hotel with a very bold design. The brother and sister owners are extremely well connected with the fashion community and their offbeat and photogenic hotel is often used as a set for fashion, media and musical shoots. Each room in the centrally located hotel is individually themed and bursting with flamboyant kitsch and retro antiques. Choose from the seventies style “Honky Tonk Afro Room” to the Hollywood star inspired “Monochrome Marilyn.” Other rooms include “Metallica” “Enter the Dragon” and “Better Red Than Dead”.

Ace Hotel – cool basement style

Sitting right at home in the capital’s most creative area is London’s hippest new hotel the Ace. The ultra trendy chain originated in America but is a perfect match for all the Shoreditch hipsters. The design is playful, minimal and achingly cool with a range of influences from the British punk to the clean Modernism of the Bauhaus. Rooms feature vintage furniture, original artwork, a flat screen TV with Ace video on demand and Revo radios with Ace curated radio stations, plus a well stocked mini bar and complimentary Wi-Fi. Some rooms even have turntables and a selection of vinyl and acoustic guitars.

Rough Luxe – designer shabby chic

Rough Luxe is definitely not your average boutique hotel. The design is the brainchild of architect and interior designer Rabih Hage and the result is a unique combination of urban shabby chic and classic English luxury. Peeling walls, bare floorboards and unfinished surfaces are contrasted with top quality furniture and an impressive collection of modern art. There’s only nine rooms in total but each come with their own expensive bed linen, designer comforts and an unconventional design. Staying here would be an experience in itself…

Double Rooms are prices from £120 per night

To book, check prices or availability for cool hotels London Rough Luxe

Megaro Boutique Hotel – chic and contemporary

Housed in a typical London town, this funky four star comes complete with contemporary decor and spacious rooms – quite a rarity in London. It’s located in the well-connected transport hub of vibrant Kings Cross which is only short journey away from London’s most famous attractions. Rooms are furnished with comtempoaray oak wood and most come with a sofa bed, making it a great choice for families. The bar is pretty classy too – part classic film set and part fancy bordello – with entirely original cocktails on offer.

The Zetter – bold retro-modern

Located in the heart of London’s trendy creative neighbourhood Clerkenwell, this small contemporary boutique hotel caters to a design loving crowd. Once a Victorian warehouse, now The Zetter houses 59 guest rooms individually designed in a bold retro-modern style. Other unique details include a vending machine on every floor (which ejects everything from champagne to disposable cameras) and complimentary spring water taken from the hotel’s very own 1,500ft bore hole. The Zetter has also been commended on its eco-friendly ethos and dedication to providing state of the art technology in every room.

16 Comments

These hotels have really touched on everything that I would expect from a hotel in London. They are very sleek, yet have an air of romance and of course many of them also feature Victorian architecture. When people go to London, I am sure many of them (especially tourists) want to feel like a king or queen; and of course they can get that if they choose the right place to stay. I myself really like the Rough Luxe. It just seems sort of grungy, but also Victorian in many respects.

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We are Becky and Gray the UK-based duo behind GlobalGrasshopper – a global magazine and resource for independent travellers. We're also joined by a team of self-confessed travel snobs and together we're on a mission to discover the world's most underrated and beautiful places. Subscribe to our news feed for photography, guides and travel inspiration with a slightly off-beat outlook.

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